Lamp housing



May 27, 1969 F. A. BAILEY ET AL 3,446,955

LAMP HOUS IN G Filed April 29, 1966 20 INVEN'I'ORS 55 53 FREDERICK A. BAILEY WILLIAM H. MONTGOMERY Attorney May 27, 1969 BAILEY ET AL LAMP HOUS IN G Sheet Filed April 29, 1966 1 1\' VEN'IORS FREDERICK A. BAILEY W/LL/AM H. MONTGOMERY BY Attorney United States Patent US. Cl. 24046.59 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display lamp comprising a main body having an optical element with peripherally mounted spaced apart tongue elements secured to one end and a lamp supported within the main body. Spring clips are provided for holding the lamp and the optical element in the main body. The spring clips cooperate at their forward ends with an individual one of the tongue elements on the optical element to hold the tongue, and are bent intermediate their length to receive a peripheral portion of the lampQAn arm projects through the rear of the main body and cooperates with the spring clips for rotating the lamp about an axis.

This invention relates to lamp housings and more particularly to such housings as are employed for display lamps.

Many types of lamp housing have been provided for display lamps but due to the wide variety of lamps employed it has not always been possible to substitute one type of lamp for another.

The heat generated by lamps varies greatly according to their wattage and their design and lamps which may be suitable in one housing may not be suitable for use in a second housing.

Furthermore, many display lamps of the prior art have been limited in their application to simple display purposes and they are not adapted to cope with other uses such as in the theatre.

These limited uses of structure of the prior art may have arisen from a consideration of the competing elements of cost and adaptability.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a lamp housing which is adaptable to various uses and which is economical to produce.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lamp housing which will accommodate various types of lamps without affecting their performance.

In accordance with these objects there is provided in this present invention a lamp housing which is itself of simplified structure which permits for the substitution and securement by simplified means of various types of lenses, louvres or filters with facility. Another feature of the present invention resides in the means by which the various components are secured together with a minimum of fastening means.

These and various other objects and features of the invention will be more apparent from the following description and drawings in which a preferred embodiment of a lamp housing is illustrated by way of example and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a general perspective view from the front of a lamp housing in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along line 22 of FIG- I; and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of a lamp housing in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings as illustrated in FIG- URE l a lamp housing in accordance with the present invention comprises a main body 10 having a generally rectangular appearance with top side and bottom walls 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively. In this particular embodiment there is mounted in the open front end of body 10 a louvre 15. It will of course be understood that coloured lenses or heat or colour filters or other similar components may be substituted. As will be evident from FIGURE 2 the rear end for this louvre or rear opening of body 10 has mounted therein a grille or similar perforate structure 16 to permit the entry and exit of air and keep the structure cool.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3 it will be observed that grille 16 comprises a main planar portion 17 having a rectangular form conforming to the internal form of the rear opening in body 10 and inwardly extending flanges 18, 19, 20 and 21. These flanges fit within the body 10 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. To the inner surface of flanges 21 and 19 plates such as 22 and 23, respectively, are secured in any suitable manner as shown in FIGURE 3, and to the forward ends of plates 22 and 23 a lamp chassis 24 is secured. Lamp chassis 24 comprises a substantially planar plate 25 with peripheral inwardly extending flanges such as 26, 27 formed on the edges thereof in the manner shown. Similar flanges are provided on the corresponding edges 28 and 29 or plate 25. The corner of plate 25 are cut off for easy insertion and improve ventilation. In the centre of plate 25 there is a circular hole 50 through which a light bulb, shown in dotted outline, will pass and be supported. As will be observed from FIGURE 3, plate 23 is provided with an opening 30 adjacent its forward end and plate 22 is provided with a similar opening. Intermediate the length of both plates 22 and 23 correspondingly aligned holes such as 31 are provided. It will, of course, be evident from FIGURE 2 that plate 25, as was grille 16, is dimensioned to sit within the body 10.

On either side of chassis 24 spring clips such as 32 are provided.

Spring clips 32 have the form illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. They each have at their rear end a channel 34 which is defined by walls 35 and 36 so that when assembled wall 36 passes through the opening 30 and channel 34 snugly engages flange 27. Forward of channel 34 a further step 37 is provided from the upper edge of which the clip slopes out as at 38 and at 60 is bent to slope inwardly to the forward end as at 39. As will be seen from FIGURE 2 step 37 on clip 32 engage diametrically opposed parts of the peripheral rim on the light bulb and serve to hold a bulb in secure engagement with the chassis 24. The form of clip 32 and the relationship between the adjacent housing wall and the chassis place these clips under tension which is increased with the insertion of a lamp.

To secure the chassis and the spring clips a support yoke 40 having a pair of downwardly extending legs 41 and 42 connected by a transverse bar 43 is provided with inwardly extending threaded projections 44. These projections extend through aligned holes 45 on the body 10 and 31 on the plates 22 and 23 and final securing is accomplished by means of a tension washer 46 and lock nut 47. In this manner the clips 32 are held securely against the inner side walls of housing 10. Similar clips are also provided and sit between flange 26 and the corresponding flange along edge 29 and the corresponding adjacent body walls.

This arrangement of securing the support yoke, the housing body, and the lamp chassis has been accomplished with simplicity, while at the same time providing an effective control of the attitude of the lamp housing. The at titude of the lamp housing may be adjusted by virtue of the tension washer and lock nut. When the attitude is changed to a second required position the housing is locked. Furthermore, the removal of the chassis and the dismantling of the lamp may be easily accomplished.

It will also be noticed that louvre 50 comprises a regularly shaped frame 50 within which a louvre element 51 is secured. Intermediate of each of the outer surfaces of louvre frame 50 retaining tongues such as 52 are mounted. These frame retaining tongues each comprise a substantially planar portion 53 which is crimped as at 54 and provided with an upstanding or outstanding lip 55. When the louvre is inserted in the front opening the crimped portions 54 will engage the corresponding clips such as shown by the engagement between clip 32 and tongue 52 in FIG- URE 2 and the louvre is secured in position. The other components which may be substituted are of a similar structure.

Electrical connection between the bulb and the source of the supply and the control of the attitude of the bulb is governed in at least one plane by a lamp connecor support 60 within which a lamp connector 61, shown in dotted outline is housed. The connector support 60 comprises a channel With side walls and a rear wall 62 through which a threaded sleeve 63 having collar or flange 64 extends sleeve 63 then passes through a beam limit arm 65 and the adjacent grille structure 16 so that beam limit arm 65 has a portion extending through the grille. On sleeve 63 external to grille 16 a beam adjusting handle to hold collar 64, rear wall 62, and grille 16 in engagement and on the outermost end of sleeve 63 an insulating cap is provided to insulate a power cord which is passed through sleeve 63 and electrically connected to the connector 61. In this manner the bulb may be rotated.

The transverse member of yoke 40 is provided on its upper surface with a stop 70 which is spaced apart from a central hole through which a hollow stud 71 is passed. Stud 71 engages with a centrally disposed threaded hole on a canopy 72. Canopy 72 may be secured to an adjacent surface and the power cord can be passed through the hollow stud 71 and connection made with the power source. On the under surface of canopy 72 there is also provided a downwardly extending projection 73. This projection upon engagement with the projection 70 will limit the travel of the lamp to just under 360 and thereby prevent the cord supplying the lamp from being twisted.

As will be evident from the foregoing description the lamp housing which has been provided is of simple structure and it is easy to assemble. The entire structure is held together by two tension washers which not only permit adjustment of the attitude of the lamp housing but also secure the various components of the lamp housing together.

The provision of the outwardly extending flanges on the frames of these louvres or similar elements coupled with the regular form of these elements and the lamp housing body openings permit facility in removing and replacing these components Without the operator having to look into the lamp to ensure that the various elements are correctly aligned and provide for easy fitting of the various components together.

It will also be apparent that various types of bulbs may be employed without fear of damaging through heat by virtue of the ample openings provided for air circulation.

While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to a specific embodiment it will of course be understood that other and various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

1. A lamp housing comprising a main body including a first opening and a second opening; an optical element removably mounted in said first opening; a lamp support chassis mounted in said main body and secured thereto; means for effecting electrical connection with a lamp supported in said housing; means for holding said lamp and said optical element in said main body; said optical element including at least two peripherally mounted spaced apart tongue elements, said means for holding said lamp and said optical element comprises at least two spring clips, each cooperable at their forward ends with an individual one of said tongue elements on said optical element to hold said tongue, each of said clips being bent intermediate their length to receive a peripheral portion of said lamp; said means for holding said lamp permits rotation of said lamp and includes means for rotating said lamp about an axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,278 10/ 1936 Richardson 240-47 2,822,462 2/1958 Price 240-3.1 3,116,022 12/1963 Davis 240-3 3,275,821 9/1966 Lebb 240-47 3,305,681 2/1967 Green 240-78 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 240-47, 78 

